Enthronement

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The enthronement of the ceremony , with a new monarch or pope is inserted into his office; the term is used in an analogous way with patriarchs or bishops (taking possession of the cathedra ).

Enthronement of a Pope

Under enthronement of Pope refers to the solemn ceremony in which the newly elected pope on the Chair of Peter - the (bishop) seat of the Apostle Peter - takes place. It is the symbolic takeover of the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

It has usually been celebrated since Pope Nicholas II ( 1059 ) for the inauguration of a new Pope; however, this ceremony no longer has any legal significance. With the election the new Pope already has the highest authority; if he is not yet a bishop, with the consecration immediately following .

The ceremony is simpler today and is celebrated without the triple crown of the Pope ( tiara ). Until John Paul II, the crown was only part of the papal coat of arms . With Benedict XVI. the coat of arms only contains the miter and the pallium as insignia of the Bishop of Rome .

During the inauguration ceremony, the Pope is given the pallium, a shoulder ribbon made from the wool of a blessed lamb , and the fisherman's ring is presented.

The signing act of burning a piece of tow three times in front of the eyes of the new Pope in order to hold against him the transience of all glory , combined with the exclamation Sancte Pater, sic transit gloria mundi “Holy Father, the glory of the world will pass”, has also been omitted .

Enthronement of a patriarch

The enthronement of a patriarch is the solemn ceremony at which a newly elected patriarch of an Orthodox or Catholic church is introduced to his office. It is the symbolic possession of the governance of the corresponding church.

Enthronement of a bishop

Only when a diocesan bishop has taken the chair (occupied the bishop's seat in the cathedral of the diocese) does he have official authority in the diocese (can. 382 § 1 CIC). After the papal appointment document has been read out by the cathedral provost , the new bishop is led by the metropolitan to the episcopal throne and sits on it. With this symbolic act he takes possession of the diocese, as it were. He then celebrates in concelebration with the cathedral chapter and the diocese clergy a pontifical mass as the first Holy Mass in the cathedral church . The solemn inauguration of a new bishop should take place within a maximum of four months after the appointment by the Pope, if he has already been ordained a bishop, within two months (can. 382 § 2 CIC).

The enthronement usually follows a sophisticated liturgical procedure:

  • Preparatory rites: The new bishop and the concelebrants move (across the cathedral square) to the cathedral portal.
  • The cathedral chapter and the altar assistant move from the altar through the cathedral to the cathedral portal and receive the new bishop there (who does not carry a miter , but a pileolus and does not carry a bishop's staff).
  • The metropolitan introduces the new bishop to the cathedral chapter at the cathedral portal.
  • The cathedral provost or dean gives the new bishop holy water, which he sprinkles and blesses himself and those around him.
  • Entry into the cathedral: the cathedral chapter and altar assistants accompany the new bishop and the concelebrants into the cathedral.
  • The main celebrant (the new bishop) and concelebrants kiss the altar and the concelebrants take their seats. The nuncio, the new bishop and the cathedral provost or dean stand behind the altar.
  • The Metropolitan opens the service with the sign of the cross and speaks a greeting.
  • The Metropolitan then asks the Apostolic Nuncio to present the Apostolic Letter.
  • Inauguration: The Apostolic Nuncio speaks a greeting and hands the new bishop the certificate of appointment, a handwritten bull .
  • The bishop forwards the certificate of appointment to the provost or dean, who first goes to the cathedral chapter and shows him the certificate. Then he reads the text of the certificate at the ambo . Finally he turns to the bishop and says: "I am delighted to note that you are the new rightful bishop of NN."
  • Walk to the cathedra: The metropolitan now leads the new bishop to the cathedra, the nuncio, cathedral dean and deacon follow and go to their seats.
  • Arriving at the cathedra, the Metropolitan addresses the new bishop: "I ask you to take up your office by taking a seat on the cathedra of the Bishop of NN."
  • Episcopal insignia : the bishop sits down and receives the miter from the metropolitan.
  • The predecessor in the episcopate or the provost hands over the pastoral staff to the new bishop with a word of blessing.
  • Approval of the community: The community gives its approval with a festive chant.
  • Peace greeting: the new bishop exchanges the peace greeting with the metropolitan, the apostolic nuncio and the cathedral chapter. In addition, the cathedral chapter comes to the cathedra.
  • Promise of loyalty: The clergy renews the promise of loyalty of consecration. (Some priests and deacons do this on their behalf .)
  • Representatives of the full-time employees, religious, Caritas, diocesan bodies express their solidarity and willingness to work together. The bishop responds with a word of blessing.
  • The bishops present come to the cathedra and give a sign of solidarity ( kiss of peace ).
  • Pontifical Mass: Liturgy of the Word and Eucharistic celebration with the new bishop as the main celebrant follow.

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Wiktionary: enthronement  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations